Features

Material: Optical-Grade Plastic

Outer Diameters of 5.20 mm, 6.28 mm, and 7.40 mm Available

Effective Focal Lengths from 4.60 mm to 18.15 mm

AR Coated for 400 - 700 nm

Our Plastic Aspheric Lenses, which are available uncoated or with an antireflection coating for the 400 - 700 nm range deposited on both sides, utilize molding technology to produce all-plastic optics. Designed by Philips for high-volume applications at affordable prices, these optics are ideal for low-power applications requiring lightweight components. The surface of the aspheric lens is designed to reduce spherical aberration, which allows for the spot size and collimation of a monochromatic beam of light to approach the diffraction limit.

In laser diode systems, difficulties with aberration correction are compounded by the beam's high divergence angle. Since individual spherical lenses can refract light at only small angles before spherical aberration is introduced, multiple elements are often required to collimate laser diode light. In contrast, a single aspheric lens collimates without introducing spherical aberration. When used to collimate or focus light, the lens should be oriented so that the side with a larger radius of curvature (i.e., the flatter surface) faces the point source.

Conversely, when coupling light into fiber, it is often necessary to focus the laser light to a near-diffraction-limited spot. With single spherical elements, spherical aberration is the limiting factor to achieving such a small spot size, rather than the diffraction limit. Because these aspheric lenses are corrected to minimize the spherical aberration, the focal spot size can approach the diffraction limit.

All of the plastic aspheric lenses on this page are corrected for the presence of a window, like the window in TO-type laser packages. Please see the Specs tab for details. Additionally, the side of each lens has a flat indent that provides a reference location.

Please note the effective focal length is determined from the back principal plane, which does not coincide with the flat surface of the lens.

Click to EnlargeThe transmission curve above shows total transmission through uncoated polycarbonate, including surface reflections. Our CAX100-A and CAX183-A plastic aspheric lenses are fabricated from this material and then an antireflection coating for 400 to 700 nm is deposited on the surface.

Click to EnlargeThe transmission curve above shows total transmission through uncoated acrylic, including surface reflections. Our CAY046-A plastic aspheric lens is fabricated from this material and then an antireflection coating for 400 to 700 nm is deposited on the surface.

Click to EnlargeThe shaded region above denotes the wavelength range for which these are specified.

Click to EnlargeThe transmission curve above shows total transmission through uncoated cyclic olefin copolymer, including surface reflections. Our CAW110-A and CAW100-A plastic aspheric lenses are fabricated from this material and then an antireflection coating for 400 to 700 nm is deposited on the surface.